I had to make a minor change to the fight, beyond the difference in Joseph's attitude as a result of Twilight's presence and Jonathan's survival. Remember the mask that Joseph wore in canon? You might have noticed he doesn't have it here, but I already though of an alternative. Enjoy.

Esidisi watched as his severed arm hit one of the spikes. He couldn't help but be impressed. "I'm reminded of a human named Sun Tzu, who was a great war master during the last time I was awake. One of the many things he had to say on the art of war was--" "Victory is decided before the battle is fought," Joseph finished for him, "Don't forget what I said earlier. Humans, having shorter lives, pass knowledge from one generation to the next. It's how we evolve overtime. Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' is a Chinese compendium of battle tactics he developed used by militaries the world over to this day. I've memorized each and every word as part of my studies growing up in Britain."

He smiled. "I have a habit of setting up a lot of my plans ahead of time, though I'm also a fan of making up tactics on the spot." He then proceeded to destroy Esidisi's arm to destroy it. "A good strategy," Esidisi admitted, "But I had a different saying of his in mind. All warfare is based on deception. I've already seen through your strategy. Well, not the fine details, but more the overall approach. You like to get into people's heads. Make them angry and create openings to attack. That's the real reason you had a bit of trouble with Santana. The child was so unemotional. None of us knew what to do with him."

He walked over to Loggins' body and pulled off the appropriate arm to replace his own. "But in my case, your problem is a bit different. We think along similar wavelengths. We dance around each other mentally so many times it's tricky for either of us to truly get the upper hand." He attached Loggins' arm to where his own was severed. "A bit thin, but I should grow into it before long." Just then, Joseph noticed that Loggins' corpse was bursting open what from appeared to be heat as the blood was boiling, even burning Joseph when a small bit smacked him right in the cheek.

"All living things that aren't plants are animals," Esidisi noted, "Even my kind, what you call 'Pillar Men'. And all animals, no matter what species, share a few common traits. For example, when they use energy for exercise or to fight illness, their body temperature will increase to some extent. However, I can go a bit further. I can increase my blood's temperature to six hundred degrees Fahrenheit at will, then release it!" "Then it's just like Wamuu!," Joseph noted, "But why didn't Santana show any of these powers?"

"Santana was too young and immature," Esidisi admitted, "Wamuu is two-thousand years older, so he had more time to develop his own special 'mode'. In his case, his mode is wind, while mine is flame." Joseph brought out his clackers and started twirling them. "I'll admit it's truly terrifying that you can obliterate a human body so easily. But you're not the only one who can resist being angered or intimidated." He leapt into the air, producing even more clackers. "Clacker Volley!"

Esidisi moved to dodge as many of the clackers as he could to get closer. 'They smell of the same vegetable oil Jojo used on the wire, meaning they can more easily channel Hamon. One hit from them in the wrong location, and I'm dead. But if I keep moving closer, I can close the distance and use a special skill of my own.' Once he got close enough, he opened his fingernails and had his veins extract themselves. "Now I'll stab my veins into your face, sending my boiling blood into your body to turn you into a simmering stew! Erratic Blaze King!"

Meanwhile, Caesar was still in the middle of his battle with Messina. The two were on a different battle location, a set of twin high wires overlooking the island. Caesar felt it appropriate since it was where his grandfather had passed his test. Messina made for a quick Hamon strike, but Caesar countered easily with his bubble launcher. "That's enough," Messina said as he righted himself, "If this keeps up any longer, it's clear I'll lose. Congratulations, Caesar, you have passed your final test."

Caesar nodded. "Thank you." He then walked over to one of the pillars and grabbed some binoculars. "I wonder if Jojo completed his test yet." "You seem more interested in his test than your own," Messina noted. Caesar chuckled. "I've been able to push myself because of how strong he was getting. I must admit, seeing how much of his grandfather's noble spirit he inherited... I can see why this destiny was laid out for him instead of me." He then looked toward the other arena and frowned when he saw a bit of boiling blood hit a spike. "Something's not right here... Joseph is fighting Esidisi, and I can't see Loggins anywhere!"

Esidisi thought he had Joseph for sure, but got a big surprise when Joseph used his hat charged with Hamon to block the veins. Still, the force of the attack was enough to knock him off his perch, using Hamon to keep from getting impaled. "That was a close shave," Joseph admitted, "Lucky for me you were arrogant enough to explain what you were going to do to me, giving me just enough time think up a counter-strategy."

"You continue to surprise me!," Esidisi admitted, "I honestly thought I had you, which is why I took the time to explain my attack! I never thought to consider you'd use your hat to block my veins, but in hindsight it was an obvious solution! Still, I'm betting even now you're trying to think up your next clever plan!" Joseph smirked. "I might just be. But the last time I checked... You're no mind reader!" He launched himself up with Hamon to land back on the spikes.

"I suppose that is a point in your favor," Esidisi admitted, "But you're no more a mind reader than I, and I'm just as adept at thinking up complex plans." He flattened his body on the spike pit and let himself get impaled several times over, multiple veins bursting out of his body from the holes. He rolled at Joseph like a boulder. "Erratic Blaze King's Prison!" Joseph easily dodged through the attack, his hat getting smaller as he did. "Impressive," Esidisi said, "That attack has ended the lives of many a Hamon user." He then spotted the thread woven through the spikes.

"Come now," Joseph taunted, "You must have realized it earlier when I used my hat to block your Erratic Blaze King. It's made from one-hundred percent wool fiber, and is great for conducting Hamon. Now you've stepped right into my barrier trap!" Esidisi couldn't help but laugh. "Why would you be laughing at a time like this?," Joseph asked. Esidisi smirked. "Your next line is, 'I'll wipe that smile right off your face!'" Joseph chuckled. "So you do that too then?" That caught Esidisi off-guard.

"I thought I was just being clever when I came up with that little auditory trick," Joseph explained, "But my Aunt Twilight taught me a few tricks to avoid falling prey to it, just in case someone ever tried it back on me. I never took her seriously, but took the lessons to heart regardless. Looks like they paid off." He smiled at Esidisi. "Your next line is, 'No matter, I've still seen through your strategy!'" "No matter," Esidisi called out, "I've still seen through your strategy!"

He growled when he realized Joseph had turned the tables mentally, but still went through with his plan, opening up his toenails and slicing through the thread using the veins that came out of his toes. He cackled. "Earlier you mentioned that victory is decided before the battle even begins! But it looks my strategies were the ones that played out! Now my blood will boil you for sure!" As the veins got closer, Joseph chuckled. "And earlier you mentioned that all warfare is based on deception. You earlier bragged how I couldn't get inside your head so easily, but it looks like I just did."

He grabbed a piece of the thread and pulled. To Esidisi's shock, it turned out to be a whole thread that was now the surrounding him. "This is what I was talking about earlier!," Joseph called out, "Why humans can evolve faster than Pillar Men! While you slept for two-thousand years, we've been growing and developing! In the recent century, a new type of skill called sleight-of-hand was developed for entertainment." He smiled. "I happen to be quite a big fan of it, and you've no doubt noticed how I incorporated it into my personal Hamon style."

Esidisi realized what must have happened as he got wrapped up in the string. 'Damn him! There were two strings all along, threaded together! He kept one hidden behind me, the one I'm wrapped in right now, and distracted me with the obvious one knowing I'd slice it up to avoid his barrier! Humans have become so powerful in two-thousand years! I've no choice but to use my last resort to ensure Kars gets the Red Stone of Aja! I may lose this fight, but we'll still win the battle!'

As Joseph started channeling his Hamon, he said, "Your next line is, 'My veins will move faster than your pathetic Hamon!'" Esidisi started flexing as if to try and break out of the thread. "My veins will move faster than your pathetic Hamon!" He growled when he realized Joseph got him again. "This fight is over!," Joseph called out, "Feel this! Hamon Beat Overdrive!" The powerful Hamon ripped through Esidisi's body, breaking off pieces of him. As a last attack, he focused all the strength he could muster into his head, transforming it to spear Joseph.

Joseph scoffed as he simply broke off the horn, then watched as Esidisi glowed brilliantly as he crumbled away. "That energy," Joseph said, "It's like the life force of all the people he's eaten is escaping. Thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Now that light will fade as those souls rest in peace." Esidisi crumbled away as the nose ring dropped to the ground. As Joseph picked it up, he noticed something. "Santana lived on in a petrified state after I beat him. Well, until Applejack crushed his brain. But Esidisi completely disintegrated."

He shrugged. "I guess my skill in Hamon just improved that much more." He popped open the ring and drank the contents. Afterward, he stuck his tongue out as he groaned. "Maybe it's because this was attached to his nose, but it kinda reminded me of snot." He still felt the antidote work as the ring inside his throat broke off from his carotid, disappearing into harmless dust. "That's that," he said, "I'd better head back." As he left for the main island, he didn't notice Esidisi's brain clinging to his back.